109254: Times when it is forbidden to offer voluntary prayers

I read in one of the questions on your site about the times when prayer is forbidden. Could you please explain what these times are by the clock, so as to put my mind at rest?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The definition of times when voluntary prayer is forbidden
varies from one country to another, and from one season to another. Hence we
cannot explain what these times are by the clock for all lands and in all
seasons. But we will explain the general principles which will make it easy
for every Muslim to work out when these times are. Hence we say that the
times when prayer is forbidden are three:

-1-

From when dawn breaks until approximately a quarter of an
hour after the sun has risen. You can find out the time of sunrise from the
timetables that are available in all countries.

-2-

Approximately a quarter of an hour before the time for Zuhr
prayer begins, until the time for Zuhr begins.

-3-

After you have prayed ‘Asr – even if it is an hour after the
time for it began – until the disk of the sun has set completely. So the
beginning of the time when prayer is forbidden is when one has prayed ‘Asr,
not the beginning of the time for ‘Asr prayer, because the Muslim may offer
‘Asr prayer some time after the time for it begins. In that case the Muslim
may offer voluntary prayers so long as he has not yet prayed ‘Asr, even if
the time for ‘Asr has begun. Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said in al-Mughni (1/429): We do not know of any difference of
opinion concerning that among those who say that prayer is not allowed after
‘Asr. End quote.

The evidence for these times is mentioned in several
ahaadeeth, among the clearest and most comprehensive of which is the lengthy
hadeeth which was narrated by Imam Muslim in his Saheeh (832) from
‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “Pray Fajr, then
refrain from praying until the sun has risen and become high, for when it
rises, it rises between the horns of the Shaytaan and at that time the
kuffaar prostrate to it. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended
until the shadow of a spear falls directly north (i.e., noon). Then refrain
from praying, for at that time Hell is stoked up. Then when the shadow moves
forward, pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended, until you have
prayed ‘Asr. Then refrain from praying until the sun has set, for it sets
between the horns of the Shaytaan and at that time the kuffaar prostrate to
it.”

We should point out that what is forbidden is prayer that is
purely voluntary at these times. As for prayers for which there is a reason,
such as “greeting the mosque” (tahiyyat al-masjid) or the two rak’ahs
after wudoo’ or the two rak'ahs after tawaaf and so on, they may be offered
at any time according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions.